diff --git a/src/EntityManager.cpp b/src/EntityManager.cpp
index 4afc4e1..5fe252c 100644
--- a/src/EntityManager.cpp
+++ b/src/EntityManager.cpp
@@ -1659,6 +1659,10 @@
     static bool scannedPowerOff = false;
     static bool scannedPowerOn = false;
 
+    if (systemConfiguration.empty() || lastJson.empty())
+    {
+        return; // not ready yet
+    }
     if (scannedPowerOn)
     {
         return;